Generally, a dam removal involves multiple funding partners. There are several programs that provide funding for dam removal projects. The reason for removing a dam (habitat improvement, public safety, flooding) may make a project eligible for certain funding sources and ineligible for others.
Federal agencies often support dam removal projects including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the U.S. Corps of Engineers (USACE). Natural resource damage settlements and required mitigation also provide opportunities for funding projects. Of course, the dam owner may also contribute to the costs associated with removing their dam. In some instances, settlement of state or federal natural resource damage claims can be a source of dam removal funds. For more information on that course, contact the NJDEP Office of Natural Resource Restoration for guidance. Some examples of funding sources used in recent dam removals in New Jersey include:
New Jersey Dams 